The handwriting on the wall was clear enough to see. The CoViD-19 pandemic is taking its toll on our economy.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show a 5.6 percent drop in the Province’s gross domestic product in 2020, offsetting the 6.3 percent increase in 2018 and 2019.
Blame this on the lockdowns we had to go through, which inevitably resulted in business closures, affecting nearly all sectors, with a few exceptions like drug stores, telecom companies, bakeries, and funeral parlors.
Negros Oriental, whose economic drivers are the academe and the tourism industry, experienced the economy drop to the doldrums.
But now, there’s nowhere to go but up.
In the past two years, new knowledge and practices have been discovered in handling CoViD-19. The phrase “Dance with CoViD” evolved, as people soon became less scared of the virus, and simply took more precautions, in addition to getting vaccinated.
We are now seeing the opening of new businesses, as some Negrenses are betting against the odds, and trying their luck on ventures that could help jump-start the economy.
We admire the optimism of these local entrepreneurs as we call on the public to support their ventures by patronizing them.
These new enterprises are not just going into business to earn money for themselves — they are also providing jobs and opportunities for our locals to earn their keep.
We can get out of this dire situation together. As members of a community, we have a responsibility to look out for each other. That’s what makes us who we are. That’s what makes Dumaguete truly a ‘City of Gentle People’.
Otherwise, you’d be better off living like a hermit.
